News and Analysis

Snap Scan Shines New Light on the Company’s Local Discovery Ambitions

Snapchat’s ambition to become a socially fueled local discovery engine recently got a boost with Snap Scan, a visual search tool that makes the world searchable and shoppable. Connecting dots over several years, Snap’s geo-local efforts include Geofilters, Snap Map, Local Place Promote, and Local Lenses. 

5 User-Generated Content Platforms for SMBs

As Google expands the local search experience to encompass more aspects of the customer journey, user-generated content is coming into play as one of the most important ranking factors for small and mid-size businesses.

Brands Rethink Return Policies to Build Customer Loyalty

If generous return policies aren’t sustainable from a financial perspective, and restrictive return policies lead to high rates of customer churn, what’s the solution?

Commentary

How Rising Public Concern Around Facebook Privacy Impacts Everyone’s Bottom Line

How do Facebook’s problems affect the rest of us? Good question. At Clever Real Estate, our effectiveness as a real estate technology company depends on our ability to connect with customers online, so we surveyed 1,139 Americans about their feelings regarding online advertising and the internet at large. Some of our findings might surprise you.

LBMA Vidcast: Amazon Go Takes Cash, Macy’s Launches ‘Story’

On this week’s Location-Based Marketing Association podcast: Goodwill, Bose + Coachella, Improving traffic with “Flo,” Amazon Go takes cash, Macy’s launches “Story,” Uber goes B2B with vouchers.

Local Marketing Methods That Will Attract Millennials

Millennials want their money to go further than it has before. They desire to pay less for both their wants and needs, are more socially conscious than ever, and need things to catch their eye quickly. So, how do we, as local marketers, appeal to them? Brands and businesses that can give millennials what they want, when they want it, and at an affordable price will win their business.

Latest Posts

How Voice Assistants Could Transform Local (Part II)

Voice assistants continue to evolve as a medium for local search, as I examined here last month. But what does it mean for local media players and startups? If consumers are increasingly searching with voice, how do you wedge your way into that conversation?

How Facebook Turns ‘Likes’ Into Dollars Right Down to the Local Level

Local news publishers typically know many of their community restaurateurs on a first-name basis, and are regular diners at the establishments. But they can’t offer the precise targeting capability of Facebook, whose services are, in most cases, fully automated — greatly lowering their cost.

Street Fight Daily: Sizmek Shutters Rocket Fuel Brand, Stitch Fix Prepares IPO in Amazon’s Shadow

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Sizmek Shuts Down the Rocket Fuel Brand to Focus on Ad Transparency… Stitch Fix Prepares an IPO in the Shadow of Amazon… Google AMP Update to Discourage Publishers from Using Teaser Pages…

Why Commercial Banks Are Turning to Proximity Technology

That location intelligence firms are able to use foot traffic patterns to predict the financial performance of businesses is nothing new. But a new report released shines a light on the ways commercial banks and investment companies are upping the ante by using location data to get the most out of the market.

How Thanksgiving Day Store Closures Impact Black Friday Sales

Shoppers say they don’t want retailers opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day, but research from Foursquare tells a different story. Analyzing proprietary foot traffic data at major retailers, Foursquare found that stores that open earlier on Thanksgiving Day drive more visits and steal share from their competitors.

Raise Report: Yotpo, Leanplum, Globality Secure New Funding

Every two weeks, we round up some of the biggest fundraises taking place in hyperlocal marketing, commerce, and tech. This week’s edition includes funding for ChartMogul, Choozle, Roomi, and Spirited Media.

LBMA Podcast: Google, Dunkin Donuts, Hilton Hotels + Amazon

This Week in Location Based Marketing is a weekly video podcast from the Location Based Marketing Association with Asif Khan and Rob Woodbridge. On the show: Pause Fest, Vita Moja + DNAfit, FreezeTag, Mapbox buys MapData, Euclid partners with LiveRamp.

Street Fight Daily: Big-Box Retailers Report Best Earnings in Years, Mashable Sold for Change

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Investments in Digital Transformation Pay Dividends for Big-Box Retailers… Mashable Sold at Fire-Sale Price of $50 Million to Ziff Davis… Topix Was Getting Crushed by the Duopoly. Now It’s Making Millions Off Them…

Facebook Local: The Launch We’ve All Been Waiting For?

Last week’s rebranding of its Events app as Facebook Local could be Facebook’s long-awaited foray into serious competition with the Googles and Yelps of the world for market share in local search. Meanwhile, another Facebook local product, Marketplace, has proved to be a sleeping giant.

Street Fight Daily: Whole Foods Prices Cut for Prime Members, How Patch Makes Local Profitable

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Amazon and Whole Foods Reveal New Price Cuts for Prime Members… How Patch’s CEO Makes Hyperlocal Profitable… Google Maps Gets a Redesign…